Anthony Walton White Evans
Encyclopedia
Anthony Walton White Evans (October 31, 1817 – November 28, 1886) was an American civil engineer
whose work included countless railroad and canal commissions in North and South America during the mid-nineteenth century.
to Thomas M. Evans (1790-1820) and Eliza Mary White (1792-1861). His siblings include: Elizabeth Margaret Evans (1813-1898); and Isabelle Johanna Evans (1815-1901). His maternal grandfather was Brigadier General Anthony Walton White
, an American Revolutionary War
veteran. Anthony Walton White Evans later went by the name Walton Evans by dropping "Anthony" early in life.
in 1834. He left the school in October 1836, and then served as an assistant engineer on the Erie Canal
. In 1845 he became an assistant to Allan Campbell in the construction of the New York and Harlem Railroad extension to Albany, New York
. The following year he became the resident engineer on the job but resigned in 1850 to join Campbell in building the Copiapo Railroad in Chile
. Evans completed the road in 1853 after Campbell's departure. Evans then served as Chief Engineer for the construction of the Arica and Tacna Railroad in Peru
from 1853 to 1856.
He returned to New York and worked as a consultant for the Lima and Oroya Railway. In that capacity, he designed the Verrugas Viaduct. This bridge was engineered by Leffert L. Buck
. Also working on the railway was Virgil Bogue
. Both of these men were fellow RPI graduates.
. The railroad was completed in 1860.
After his return to New York in 1860 he became a consulting engineer. He designed the Varrugas Viaduct on the Luna & Oroya Railroad and acted as agent for a number of foreign railways to purchase equipment and recruit staff. He always recommended the use of American locomotives and cars over those built in Europe. From 1862 to 1864, he served as the engineer for the Port of New York
and in 1865, he became President of the United States Petroleum Company. He also was President of the Spuyten Duyvil Rolling Mill.
He was interested in what would become the Panama Canal
in Central America, and he attended the 1879 International Congress on the Canal in Paris, France. Evans collected books, and paintings which were displayed at his home, Sans Souci
, in New Rochelle, New York
. He donated his collection to the Smithsonian Institution
before his death. He died on November 28, 1886.
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
whose work included countless railroad and canal commissions in North and South America during the mid-nineteenth century.
Birth
He was born on October 31, 1817 in New Brunswick, New JerseyNew Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
to Thomas M. Evans (1790-1820) and Eliza Mary White (1792-1861). His siblings include: Elizabeth Margaret Evans (1813-1898); and Isabelle Johanna Evans (1815-1901). His maternal grandfather was Brigadier General Anthony Walton White
Anthony Walton White
Anthony Walton White was a cavalry officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.-Early life:Anthony W. White was the son of Anthony White...
, an American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
veteran. Anthony Walton White Evans later went by the name Walton Evans by dropping "Anthony" early in life.
Education
He attended local schools before entering the Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
in 1834. He left the school in October 1836, and then served as an assistant engineer on the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
. In 1845 he became an assistant to Allan Campbell in the construction of the New York and Harlem Railroad extension to Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. The following year he became the resident engineer on the job but resigned in 1850 to join Campbell in building the Copiapo Railroad in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. Evans completed the road in 1853 after Campbell's departure. Evans then served as Chief Engineer for the construction of the Arica and Tacna Railroad in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
from 1853 to 1856.
He returned to New York and worked as a consultant for the Lima and Oroya Railway. In that capacity, he designed the Verrugas Viaduct. This bridge was engineered by Leffert L. Buck
Leffert L. Buck
Leffert L. Buck was an American civil engineer and a pioneer in the use of steel arch bridge structures. Leffert graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY in 1868...
. Also working on the railway was Virgil Bogue
Virgil Bogue
Virgil Gay Bogue was born in Norfolk, New York, on July 20, 1846. He received a degree in civil engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, in 1868. Bogue worked consecutively on Oroya Railway in Peru to 1879, the Northern Pacific Railway to 1886...
. Both of these men were fellow RPI graduates.
Marriage
Evans returned to the United States and married Anna Zimmerman on June 24, 1856. The couple moved to Chile where Evans supervised the building of the Southern Railroad, which ran for fifty miles south of SantiagoSantiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
. The railroad was completed in 1860.
After his return to New York in 1860 he became a consulting engineer. He designed the Varrugas Viaduct on the Luna & Oroya Railroad and acted as agent for a number of foreign railways to purchase equipment and recruit staff. He always recommended the use of American locomotives and cars over those built in Europe. From 1862 to 1864, he served as the engineer for the Port of New York
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
and in 1865, he became President of the United States Petroleum Company. He also was President of the Spuyten Duyvil Rolling Mill.
He was interested in what would become the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
in Central America, and he attended the 1879 International Congress on the Canal in Paris, France. Evans collected books, and paintings which were displayed at his home, Sans Souci
Davenport House (New Rochelle, New York)
The Davenport House in New Rochelle, New York is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its significant architecture in Gothic Revival style, designed by architect Alexander Jackson Davis...
, in New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
. He donated his collection to the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
before his death. He died on November 28, 1886.